NOVEMBER PUBLIC PROGRAMS

LATE NIGHT THURSDAY / “When You Cut Into the Present the Future Leaks Out:William S. Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Marshal McLuhan and the Cut-Up”, a lecture presented by Blair Brennan.

Thursday November 2, 20176:00-8:00 PM | FREE

Combining film screenings, local guest speakers, music, cocktails and food, our monthly series Late Nights at Contemporary Calgary invites Calgarians to learn about contemporary art, writing and design while enjoying a night out with friends.

Edmonton artist Blair Brennan explores the “cut-up” method of Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs. Brennan has long been fascinated by this aleatory technique (a sort of literary collage) and has employed it frequently in his own text-based artworks. The literary experiment was fundamental to a significant portion of Burroughs output as a writer and his visual art; however, it is tempting to disregard Burroughs’ use of the cut- up as the whimsical idiosyncrasy of one author. Marshal McLuhan’s 1964 article in The Nation on Burroughs’ infamous book Naked Lunch, provides insight into the use of the cut-up, not as a novelty but as a methodology that can, as Burroughs suggested, be readily adapted to the work of any writer, musician or artist.

CONTEMPORARY KIDS/ Storybook Illustration

Sunday, November 5, 20172:00PM - 4:00 PM | FREE

Each iteration of this monthly series will focus on one specific artwork, artist, or theme found in our current exhibition, welcoming families for a brief tour followed by an engaging art activity developed specifically for children, ages 5-12.

Please join us for a very special Contemporary Kids event where we will work together to illustrate a stroy about visiting the gallery. Each child will be given a page to draw or paint and the final images will be collected, printed and bound into a publication which will be yours to keep!

Registration required.

LUNCH HOUR AUTHOR READINGS/ Tomas Jonsson, Home Turf

Wednesday November 15, 201712:15-12:45 PM | FREE

Held over the lunch hour this series invites Calgarians working in the downtown core to enjoy their lunch while listening to talks and presentations by artists whose work blends modes of writing with the visual arts.

In his performative reading Home Turf, Calgary-based writer, curator and artist Tomas Jonsson observes the intertwining relationships between family, land, narrative, and memory. Through one-on-one engagement with archival materials from his family's personal collection. Jonsson reflects on personal relationships to land, and development in Calgary. Jonsson's presentation will also discuss the relationship between his artistic and writing practices, which intertwine his interest in issues of social agency in processes of urban growth and transformation.

LATE NIGHT THURSDAY/ The Language of Symbols and Script in Body Art with Trevor Varem

Thursday November 16, 20177:00 - 9:00 PM | FREE

Please join us on November 16th from 7-9pm for a talk about symbols and script in body art by Trevor Varem of Mission Tattoo. Trevor will share the stories and creative process behind some of his favourite designs. This talk will demonstrate how tattoos act as personal narratives and the varied ways in which symbols and script are read and create meaning. With over ten years experience as a tattoo artist Trevor will also discuss technical considerations when designing a tattoo and how the industry has been influenced by the rise of social media.

Call for submissions: Have you been thinking of getting a custom designed tattoo to visualize and commemorate your story or memory? To illustrate his design process Trevor will select an entry and create custom designs which will be presented as part of his talk. For more information please email Charlotte CHARLOTTE.LEGALLAIS@CONTEMPORARYCALGARY.COM

After receiving a BFA in Print Media from ACAD in 2007 Trevor began his career as a tattoo artist, taking his interest in print design from paper to skin. His personal and professional practices have been driven by an interest in visually representing the curious and the strange, giving shapes to these concepts through the language of symbolism. His favourite aspect of his job is creating unique designs from the memories and stories of his clients, meanings which may be cryptic or clear. Trevor currently works at Calgary’s Mission Tattoo Parlour.

This talk is part a selection of public programming for Contemporary Calgary’s current exhibition extratextualwhich explores the intersection between writing and art.

Each iteration of this monthly series will focus on one specific artwork, artist, or theme found in our current exhibition, welcoming families for a brief tour followed by an engaging art activity developed specifically for children, ages 5-12.Weaving and Tapestry will have children decorate their own fabric wall tapestry and learn the art of weaving, linking to exhibiting artists Carl Beam and Ann Newdigate.

Joshua Whitehead is an Oji-Cree/nehiyaw, Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer member of Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1) in Manitowapow. He is the 2017 winner of the Indigenous Arts and Stories competition and recipient of a Governor General's History Award for his poem "mihkokwaniy". His debut book of poetry, full-metal indigiqueer, was published this fall with Talonbooks while his debut novel, Jonny Appleseed, is forthcoming in Spring 2018 through Arsenal Pulp Press.

Joshua will introduce Akira, a 1988 Japanese adult anime science fiction film based on Otomo's manga of the same name.

French Connections: Featuring a family day, exhibition tour and film screening in French, members of our Francophone community are invited to celebrate the launch of this new programming series with Director and CEO Pierre Arpin who will give a tour of the exhibition with a wine and cheese reception.

Contemporary Calgary is located on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.